-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ShpHEgP/jL70Ci+9viYU2XurCuAMQPafDHIhsBgC3iypXGzfpDE0xSj5MFvAgZkt
 E1ZFQfWyMvbJABigNnQeRA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-015961.txt : 20030807
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-015961.hdr.sgml : 20030807
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030807134758
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-015961
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030806
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030807

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CNA FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000021175
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				366169860
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CNA PLZ
		STREET 2:		235
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60685
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3128225000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CNA PLAZA
		STREET 2:		235
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60685

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCGINNIS ROBERT L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253592

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05823
		FILM NUMBER:		03828370

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CNA
		STREET 2:		CAN PLAZA
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60685
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3128226312

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CNA
		STREET 2:		CNA PLAZA
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60685
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c78401-2rlm.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-06</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000021175</issuerCik><issuerName>CNA FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001253592</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MCGINNIS ROBERT L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>60685</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Pres. &amp; CEO, Life &amp; Group Ops.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivati
veTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.60</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>24.60</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-08-06</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-06</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTr
ansaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares vest in 25% installments on each anniversary date of grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert L. McGinnis</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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